Elderly couple scammed by bogus workmen

GARDAI have urged people not to engage with unsolicited callers to their doors after an elderly north Cork couple were conned out of money by a travelling gang of conmen.

The incident took place in the village of Newmarket after the fraudsters called to their home and told the couple that there was a leak in a neighbouring house that needed attention.

Fermoy based Sgt John Kelly, the designated Garda crime prevention officer for the north Cork division, said the gang told the couple that repairs to the neighbouring chimney would also entail some work to their own roof.

“Naturally concerned at what they were being told, the couple handed over a sum of money to the gang for the bogus repairs. The gang then left with the money and were not seen again,” said Sgt Kelly.

“Homeowners need to be on their guard and if they have any suspicious about callers to their door do not engage with them and report the incident to Gardaí,” said Sgt Kelly.

He said that while local Gardaí and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) had been successfully targeting these types of travelling gangs, there would always be unscrupulous criminals all too willing to con people out of their hard earned cash.

“The fact of the matter is that even when we catch one gang, there will always be another one ready to take their place. While these gangs may not operate in a particular area for a period of time, people still need to be aware that they will come back at some time or another. It is important that people still keep their guard up,” said Sgt Kelly.

He said that there are plenty of genuine trades people operating within local communities who can be called on to undertake jobs or emergency repair works to homes and buildings.

“Many community focussed bodies, such as Avondhu Blackwater Ltd, keep lists of recognised local trades people. Our advice is to contact one of these and under no circumstances engage random door-to-door callers,” he said.

“Even if a scammer does do undertake some works, there is an all too real chance that they will do a botched job that will cost even more money to repair,” he warned.